KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Ratepayers' Association (KRA) has raised its concerns over the recent appointment of a new Knysna Planning Tribunal, citing the timing of the appointment as one of its concerns.

A statement from KRA about the newly appointed tribunal stated that the association normally endeavours to ensure that at least one committee member attends council meetings in order to protect the interests of ratepayers and residents. 

"Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, we were unable to attend the special council meeting set down for 14 May 2020 and no arrangement was made for us or other members of the public to follow the meeting electronically. The item was published on the [Knysna Municipality] website less than 24 hours before the meeting," read the statement.

The KRA said they are extremely concerned about the timing of the item, as well as the paucity of information in acting municipal manager Dr Michele Gratz's report. "The Knysna Municipal Planning bylaw requires tribunal members to have prescribed knowledge and experience, yet Gratz's report did not include any relevant information concerning either the external or the internal members. The information in the report was wholly inadequate to enable council to make rational and informed appointments," said the KRA.

The association said they are also concerned that a new tribunal was appointed less than a year before the next municipal elections. "We wrote to the Speaker Mertle Gombo the day before the meeting and asked her to postpone the item to enable us to address our concerns to council and to participate in the meeting. To date we have not had the courtesy of a reply from the Speaker," read the statement.

The KRA said they were informed after the meeting that Ian Uys was the only councillor who supported their request to participate in the meeting. "Councillor Uys was also the only councillor to ask why the planning director, who used to chair the tribunal, was not recommended for appointment. Gratz did not answer his question. The planning tribunal decides on all planning applications in which objections are delivered and it is vital that members be of unquestionable integrity and possess the requisite competence," the KRA noted, adding that they have requested reasons for the decisions taken as well as further information, and would consider their options upon receipt thereof.

Knysna Municipality spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhout said the municipality refutes the statements of the KRA relating to council not having had all the necessary information to make a decision. "The planning director was not recommended for appointment because of her current workload. The term of the previous tribunal members expired on 31 July 2019 and their term was extended until 31 January 2020, whereafter it was again extended until 30 April. Council has an obligation in terms of relevant legislation to appoint a tribunal and council has now elected to make a decision regarding the appointment of the members of the tribunal," he said.

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